The most lucrative drug trafficking route in the world.

El Naya

I’m working on a new novel – 6,000 Kilos. From the title and the picture, you probably already figured out it’s got something to do with drug trafficking.

You are correct.

And like all my crime fiction, the story’s based on a true story. In this case, it’s based on the biggest cocaine bust in the history of the United States. Which took place on June 17, 2019, when federal agents seized 16.5 tons of Colombian cocaine at the Port of Philadelphia arriving on a container ship. The cocaine represented a street value over $1-billion.

I traced that shipment from the coca pickers in the jungles of Colombia – through the paste and processing labs – transported on the backs of mules to tiny, remote fishing villages – where the coke was loaded into narco subs – and later uploaded onto the container ship at sea under the cover of darkness – through the Panama Canal – and all the way to the port of Philly. I know who operated the crane that uploaded the coke – his two helpers – and how much they were paid – but I’m digressing.

The first chapter is called El Naya – which is the name of the most lucrative drug trafficking route in the world. And I’m concerned about Scene 5. This scene introduces you to main character Steve Piasecki – it also provides some historical color and background – and serves the main function as a foreshadowing device for an extremely crucial development in the plot that comes up two scenes later.

I’m concerned about your reaction to a brief conversation between Steve – who moonlights as an Uber driver – and his passenger – a beautiful, and intelligent Argentinian female who is also a computer engineer. On the way to the airport, they briefly converse in Spanish – and I wrote that brief conversation entirely in Spanish. My concern is this – Does the story still flow smoothly at that point? Or is the use of Spanish intrusive and confusing?

To appreciate the context of that brief conversation, I present the scene in its entirety. Feel free to reply – if you feel like it.

Before the scene begins, you know three things:

(1) Steve’s an Uber driver.

(2) He’s on his way to the headquarters of a German software company – located in Newtown Square, PA.

(3) The rider’s name is Valentina.

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The scene is about 5 pages long – click the download button below and read it all on your own device – thanks.

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